A new intelligence law brought in by Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has caused concern among rights groups who say it threatens civil liberties.The new law requires Venezuelans to cooperate with intelligence agencies and secret police if requested. …"this law may be used as a weapon to silence and intimidate the opposition," ….Mr Correa compared the law to the Patriot Act in the United States, ….Mr Chavez – who called the US Patriot Act a "dictatorial law" – denied the Venezuelan law would threaten freedoms ….the revamp was needed to combat "interference from the United States".